Federal Way, WA Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Nuisance trigger
- Filthy, littered, trash-covered, overgrown premises
- Covered items
- Litter, junk, cut brush, dead plant material
- Compost/firewood exception
- Contained pile or stacked 4-ft. lengths
- Vacant land weed limit
- 12 inches under FWRC 13.43.030(20)
- First infraction penalty
- $100.00 default under FWRC 1.15.110
- Enforcing authority
- Community development / code enforcement
Summary
Federal Way declares filthy, littered, trash-covered, or overgrown premises a public nuisance, reaching vacant and unimproved land where junk, debris, or dead plant growth is stored outside an enclosed building.
Filthy, littered, trash-covered, or overgrown premises or abutting street and alley rights-of-way for which a property owner is responsible, including, but not limited to: (a) Storing outside a completely enclosed building litter, junk, or cut brush or wood including dead or decaying plant material except as contained in a compost pile or orderly stacked firewood if cut in lengths of four feet or less, or items that threaten public health, safety or welfare;
Official source re-checked September 8, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: current through Ordinance 26-1049, passed August 11, 2026).
Full Breakdown
040(10) makes it a public nuisance to keep filthy, littered, trash-covered, or overgrown premises, or abutting street and alley rights-of-way, for which a property owner is responsible. That includes, under subsection (a), storing litter, junk, or cut brush or wood, including dead or decaying plant material, outside a completely enclosed building, unless it is contained in a compost pile or is firewood stacked in orderly lengths of four feet or less. Subsection (c) separately declares unpermitted or noncompliant dumps, junkyards, or vehicle and machinery disassembly yards a public nuisance, a standard directly relevant to unimproved parcels used for informal storage.
03 FWRC governs the litter, junk, and debris conditions on an unimproved lot rather than plant height alone. 010 for enforcing these standards is protecting property values and public health, safety, and welfare from unkempt, unsafe premises.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the public nuisance chapter is a civil infraction under FWRC 1.15.110, carrying a maximum default penalty of $100 for a first violation, $200 for a second violation of the same nature or a continuing violation, and $300 for a third or subsequent violation, governed by Chapter 7.80 RCW. FWRC 7.03.050 makes each day the nuisance condition continues after notice a separate violation, and the city may abate the condition itself and assess the cost, including a lien on the property, if the owner fails to correct it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Federal Way require vacant lots to be kept clear of junk and debris?
How tall can weeds get on a vacant lot before it's a violation?
What is the penalty for letting a vacant lot become a nuisance in Federal Way?
Can a vacant lot be used as a junkyard or storage yard in Federal Way?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Federal Way
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Vacant Lot Maintenance in Nearby Cities
How other cities in King County handle vacant lot maintenance.